Obituaries
Helen Jonas
( December 22, 1919 - March 28, 2015 )
Helen Ruth Jonas, 95, of Vale, died Saturday, March 28, 2015 after several months of declining health. It was her wish to spend her final days in the family homeplace where she was born, raised and lived most of her life.
A native of Lincoln County, she was born Dec. 22, 1919 to Henry Franklin Jonas and Barbara Mary Ann (Mame) Leonard Jonas. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Turly Sly Jonas. Survivors include many cousins, and longtime special friends and caretakers, Faye White and Kaye McConnell.
Miss Jonas grew up on the family farm in the Laurel Hill community and graduated from Union High School in 1936 and Appalachian State Teachers College in 1940. She was believed to have been the oldest living retired Lincoln County school teacher at the time of her death, and taught at Rock Springs and Union before retiring in 1982 after 42 years as an elementary school teacher. She is fondly remembered by former students, many of whom still visited her decades after she taught them. To this day, many of her former students speak about the positive impact she made on their lives.
“I wanted to be a teacher all my life. It’s all I ever wanted to do,” she said in a 2013 interview about her life. “Teaching was such a joy to me.”
Miss Jonas was a member of the old Bethel Methodist Church, and served as a Sunday school teacher and church organist until the church was closed by its merger with Messiah United Methodist Church, which she helped organize. She was active in many church activities and was honored by Messiah in 1995 with the Special Mission Recognition Pin for her commitment to others.
Miss Jonas also dedicated many hours to community service and volunteered in numerous organizations including CROP Walk, Christian Ministry and LINC Meals. She also loved to entertain nursing home patients by playing piano, singing to them and engaging them in games and activities to keep them active.
She was a volunteer at Lincoln Nursing Center for 27 years and served on the board of directors of Lincoln Medical Center from 1994-1997. Gov. Jim Hunt honored her in 1983 for her volunteer work, and in 2004 the Lincoln County Business and Professional Women named her “Woman of the Year.”
An avid Republican, she was recognized in 1986 as the Lincoln County Republican of the Year.
Her entire lifetime was spent in service to others.
A Memorial Service will take place at 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 2nd at Warlick Funeral Home in Lincolnton followed by visitation.
The family would like to extend special thanks to her caregiver Lisa Tansill. With Lisa's help Helen was able to remain at home until her passing.
Memorials may be made to Messiah United Methodist Church, Hospice of Lincoln County and the Lincoln County Historical Association.
A native of Lincoln County, she was born Dec. 22, 1919 to Henry Franklin Jonas and Barbara Mary Ann (Mame) Leonard Jonas. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Turly Sly Jonas. Survivors include many cousins, and longtime special friends and caretakers, Faye White and Kaye McConnell.
Miss Jonas grew up on the family farm in the Laurel Hill community and graduated from Union High School in 1936 and Appalachian State Teachers College in 1940. She was believed to have been the oldest living retired Lincoln County school teacher at the time of her death, and taught at Rock Springs and Union before retiring in 1982 after 42 years as an elementary school teacher. She is fondly remembered by former students, many of whom still visited her decades after she taught them. To this day, many of her former students speak about the positive impact she made on their lives.
“I wanted to be a teacher all my life. It’s all I ever wanted to do,” she said in a 2013 interview about her life. “Teaching was such a joy to me.”
Miss Jonas was a member of the old Bethel Methodist Church, and served as a Sunday school teacher and church organist until the church was closed by its merger with Messiah United Methodist Church, which she helped organize. She was active in many church activities and was honored by Messiah in 1995 with the Special Mission Recognition Pin for her commitment to others.
Miss Jonas also dedicated many hours to community service and volunteered in numerous organizations including CROP Walk, Christian Ministry and LINC Meals. She also loved to entertain nursing home patients by playing piano, singing to them and engaging them in games and activities to keep them active.
She was a volunteer at Lincoln Nursing Center for 27 years and served on the board of directors of Lincoln Medical Center from 1994-1997. Gov. Jim Hunt honored her in 1983 for her volunteer work, and in 2004 the Lincoln County Business and Professional Women named her “Woman of the Year.”
An avid Republican, she was recognized in 1986 as the Lincoln County Republican of the Year.
Her entire lifetime was spent in service to others.
A Memorial Service will take place at 1:00 pm on Thursday, April 2nd at Warlick Funeral Home in Lincolnton followed by visitation.
The family would like to extend special thanks to her caregiver Lisa Tansill. With Lisa's help Helen was able to remain at home until her passing.
Memorials may be made to Messiah United Methodist Church, Hospice of Lincoln County and the Lincoln County Historical Association.
Posted on 30 Mar 2015
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125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521